Roller leveler



July 1l, 1944. R.- T. TODD ROLLER LEVELER Filed March 13. 1943.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 www Rum-u T. Torn @2M MM/W July 11, 1944. a R. `T. TODD ROLLER LEVELER 3 Sheeis-Sheet 2 Filed March 15, 1941 I III 11h11' RUSSE LL T. TODD R. T. TODD ROLLER LEVELER July 11, 1944.

Filed March 13, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 RUSS-ELL T. TDD

v o N wn@ Patented July 11, 1944 UNITED STATES `PATENT, OFFICE t l 2,353,375 y ROLLER LEVELER. Russell T. Todd, Youngstown, Ohio, assignor to McKay Machine Company, Youngstown, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 13, 1941, Serial No. 383,134 i l(c1. 153-54) Y izfciaims.

f This invention relates to roller levelers for working and leveling metal sheets, strip and plate and is particularly adapted for but not necessarily limited tothe working and leveling of such sections in the heavier gauges.` Principal objects of the invention include the provision oi a novel structural arrangement for resisting the heavy .expansive forces exerted by the stock on the mechanism of the machine whereby the design and construction of the apparatus is substantially simplifledand the probability of 'failure under prolonged and unusually severe conditions of service is substantially minimized.

Further, the invention seeks to provide an arrangement in an apparatus for roller leveling heavy gauge material whereby ythe resultant mechanism .will possess ample strength and rigidity where required to oppose the large expansive forces exerted by the material while, nevertheless. enabling substantial reductions to be made in the i weight and cost of the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is the incorporation in a roller leveler of 'an improved arrangement for reducing buckles' in the stock to insure the ready entry of the stockinto the working rolls of the machine without interrupting the operation ofthe production line in which the leveler might be positioned and withoutinjury to the mechanism of the leveler.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision in a roller ,leveler oi an improvedpinch roll-arrangement Ior engaging the leading end of1 the stock as it issues from the leveling pass and to draw the stock through the working rolls of the pass. Other objects of the invention include an improved arrangement and disposition of the operative parts of a roller leveler whereby the assembly, testing,` and shipping of thecompleted machine may be facilitated. Further, the invenn tion includes an improved arrangement for supporting and adjusting the adjustable bank of leveler rolls and improved means to restrain such rolls in their preselected position, the latter improvement contributing substantially to the longevity and low cost ofmaintenance of` the apparatus. t

, These andother objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed speciiication and the accompanying drawings whereinr there is specincally disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention. i

Inthedrawings: 4 Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, along two planes, of a roller leveler constructed in accordance with the principles oi theinvention;

Figure 2 is an end view of the apparatus o! Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a plan view of the base oi the apparatus oi Figure 1, illustrating theoperating mechanism for'the crushing roll which is operative to reduce buckles in the stock to allow the stock to enter the working rolls of the leveler.

Heretofore in constructing roller levelers the usual `practice has been to journal the lower working rolls, whether or not provided with backing rolls, in a nxed housing or base and to journal the upper metal working rolls, whetheror'not provided with backing rolls in an upper frame or housing, the upper housing having adjustable connections with/the lower housing by means of hold down screws whereby the interval and angularity'between the housings may be adjusted.

The journals in the respective housings are so constructed that the rolls carried by one housing through the leveler will be subjected to a sinuous pathof travel with the extent o'f deformation progressing from a maximum to zero amplitude in the direction followed by the stock. Although an extra working roll is journaled in one of the housings for the purpose of neutralizing any longitudinal thrust which may appear between the housings, the action of the leveler is such by reason of the divergence of the upper and lower roll banks that the thrust is not entirely eliminated and must `necessarily be taken' up by the hold down screws or other connection between the housings. Also in these prior machines the very largeexpansive forces exerted by the stock during the leveling operation are transmitted through the working rolls and their backing rolls, if used, through the component parts oi' the respective housings, and throughthe hold down screws and their ancillary devices. This construction re quires that substantially the whole of tne housings and Vparticularly their end standards or portions through which the hold down screws extend have sufficient strength and rigidity to transmit the heavy stresses without undue deection.-

Therefore the'housings must necessarily be large and heavythroughout substantially their whole extent and in `the case of vheavy plate levelers their massiveness and weight assume `such proportions as to be almost impractical.

The' a'bove mentionedobjectionable aspects of the prior devices are overcome by the present lnvention by journaling the adjustable bank Hof working rolls in a separable block or support which is closely coupled to that portion of the xed housing which journals the xed bank of working rolls whereby but a portion of the housings need be of sufficient strength and rigidity to carry the stresses imparted by the stock. The remaining portions of the housings simply serve to support the mechanism of the leveler. 'Ihis is accomplished in accordance' with the invention and the preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in Figures 1 through 3 by providing a pair' of relatively iixed side housings ID and I I in which are journaled the ends of the upper working rollsv I2 and a separable block or frame I3 (Figure 1) in which are journaled the ends of the lower metalworking rolls I4. Housings I and II are supported on a suitable `base I5 and are rigidly interconnected adjacent their upper ends 'by a.

heavy tie member I6 which is bolted or other'- `wise suitably secured to the housings ID and II.

A vided witha vertically extending bore to receive a hold-down screw"22. Vertically aligned with each of said bores is a bore 23 in the block I3. Extending at right angles to each of the vbores 23 and inwardly from the said ends of said 'block I3 is' a bore 24 adapted to receive a shaft 25. Each of the shafts is provided with a diametrically extending threaded aperture to receive the threaded portion of one of the hold-down screws 22 and it should be obvious that upon rotation of said screws without axial movement thereof the block I3 will be raised and lowered. Bores 23 are somewhat larger in diameter than the screws 22 and this, together with the cylindrical inner engagement between bores 24 and shafts 25, allows the block I3 to be adjusted aboutvan axis extending transversely of the machine whereby the divergence between the upper and lower banks of working rolls may be varied.

To the upper end of each of the screws 22 is secured a worm wheel 25 adapted to be driven in pairs by motors 21. The screws at the entering end of the machine are coupled in pairs and driven by one motor While the screws at the material leaving end of the machine are coupled together and driven by a second motor in accordance with the usual practice. Below each of the worm wheels 26 there is a thrust bearing 29 which takes the axial thrustof the screws 22. It should be apparent that the stress path through the rolls housing portion IB, screws 22, and block I3 lies in a relatively confined area inwardly of the housing portions I1 and I3. Consequently such portions need not be constructed of particularly heavy sections and the overall weight and cost of the housings I0 and-II may be substantially reduced.

Carried by the block I3 centrally thereof is'a subhousing 30 which rotatably supports the lower backup rolls 3l. Inaccordance with the usual practice, a wedge 32 is provided to move the subhousing 3l] relative to the block I3 to vary the pressure between the working rolls I4 and the backup rolls 3l. A similar subhousingY 33 rotatably supports upper backup rolls 34 and a slmilar wedge 35 may be employed to adjust the operative position of the subhousing 33 relativer to the member I6 against which the subhousing 33 bears in operation. A wear plate 31 is secured to the inner wall of each of the portions I1 and I3 of each of the housings I0 and II and cooperating wear plates 38 are attached to the block I3. Plates 38 are provided with an outer convexed surface to allow for the angular adjustment of the block I3. The wear plates are fitted rather closely and during the operation of the machine any longitudinal thrusts which may be imparted to the block I3 istaken up by the plates 31 and 38 without substantial impact or shattering between the parts. Also the provision of the plates 31 and 38 eliminate the possibility of any lateral thrusts appearing on the screws 22. This arrangement contributes to the ruggedness and durability of the machine and substantially eases the maintenance of the same. By suspending the adjustable bank of rolls there is eliminated the necessity of providing springs or other mechanisms to hold the fixed and adjustable banks of rolls in their proper spaced apart relation and thus the construction and maintenance of the apparatus is further simplified.

To reduce bulges and excessive deformation in the sheet, strip or plate to be leveled which would prevent the stock from readily entering between the working rolls of the leveler I provide a pair of crushing rolls 40 and 4I which are positioned in front of said working rolls and are operative to sufficiently reduce such bulges or other excessive deformations. Upper roll 40 is journaled in the housings I0 and II in a manner similar to.

the upper working rolls I2 while the lower crushing roll 4I is journaled in bearings, not shown, carried by the ends of a vertically slideable arbor 42 (Figures l and 2). Roll 40 is provided with backing rolls 43 journaled in a subhousing 44 bearing against a tie member 45 which interconnects the upper ends of the housings IIJ and II. Lower roll 4l is provided with a similar pair of backing rolls marked 46 which are journaled in a subhousing 41 resting on the arbor 42. The ends of the arbor 42 are slideably received in guideways, not shown, formed in the end portions ll of the housings I0 and II.

Since the stock to be handled may be deformed to such an extent that it will not enter either the crushing rolls or the leveler rolls if in their closed operative positions, means is provided to readily operate the crushing rolls to enable the end of the stock to be positioned therebetween, the means being operative to apply sufficient crushing force to the rolls when the rolls are moved toward each other. To this end, a pair of toggles 48 are connected to the arbor 42I one adjacent each end of the arbor, and the lower links of the toggles are rigidly keyed to a heavy common shaft 49. Pivotally connected to each of! the toggle pins is a link 50 which links are connected at their other ends with levers 5I pivoted on brackets 52. The opposite ends of levers 5I are connected by means of links 53 with slides' 54 adapted to be operated by the hydraulic cylinders 55. Fluid pressure is admitted to the outer ends of cylinders 55 to bring the rolls 40 and 4I together through a conduit 51, a four-way valve 58, and conduits 5B and 60. Valve 58 is manually controlled, either electrically or mechanically. Fluid pressure is supplied to conduit 51 from a reservoir 6I by a pump 62 operated by a motor 63. Pump 62 has incorporated therein the usual al." i

by`pass arrangement and in connection with the` pump there av pressure regulator, not shown,.

at the stock leaving end of the leveler to assist.V the stockin itspassage through the machine and.

heretofore such pinch. rolls werenormally spring pressed toward each other and into engagementk witheach other when no stock was between` them; As the trailing end ot a piece ofstock passed through the pinch rolls,` the rolls would come- `together under impact and this would tend to mar and scutf the'rollsi thus` reducing their useful length ot service. To obv'iate this diiilculty and prevent impact between the rolls, I employ animproved arrangement now to be described. The

upper pinch rolls 10 is journaled in xed` bearingsmounted in housings I and Il while the lower pinch roll 1I-is journaled in bearing` blocks 12 slideably mounted in windows provided in the housing sections` I8. Blocks 12 are rigidly connected to a downwardly extending screw. which is in screw threaded engagement with a worm. wheel 14 coniined to limited axial movement in a pocket 15 formed in housing sections IB. Surrounding the upper portions of screw 13 is the coil spring 16 which bear against the lower surfaces of` blocks 12 and havetheir lower ends received in a cup forming the tops of sleeves 1B. Sleeves 18 extend downwardly along screw 13, surrounding the same and have screw threaded engagement with worm wheel 19 restrained against axial movement in pockets 80 also provided in housing sections i8. Means, not shown, isprovidedV to prevent rotation of sleeve 18:` and it shouldbe apparent that upon rotation oi worm wheel19, the forces exerted by the springs 16 may be varied. In the operation of theapparatus the shaft, not shown, which rotatesthe worm-wheel 14 through worms 8| is rotated in the proper direction to space apart the rolls and 1 I, a distance just less than the thickness of the stock being handled so that as the stock comes between the rolls, the full adjusted value ofthe force exerted by theY springs 1B will be brought to bear on the stock. As the stock passes out of the rolls, the springs 16 will move the lower rolls 1I but slightly toward the upper roll 10, such movement being limitedby engagement of worm wheel 1l with the upper webs of` the .pocket 15. 'Ihe axial play of worm wheels 14 is sulcient to enable the apparatus to operate in the manner described. Pinch rolls10 `and1I, crushing rolls 40 and 4I, and the leveling rolls I2 and Il are adapted to be driven by a suitable power source, not shown, and couplings 82.

It should now be apparent that I have provided improvements in the design and construction, of roller levelers` which accomplishes the objects initially setl out. The design of the parts, particularly those which must bear large stresses, is substantially simplified thereby enabling dennite economies to be effected in the construction,`

assembly and operation of the machine. The

paths of stressresistance are materially shortened and` in addition improved means is provided to support and guide the adjustable bank of rolls of the leveler. The above speciilcally described sidered as illustrative only as obviously many' changes may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope oiy the appended claims to which. reference should be made in determining the` scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. In a roller leveler, the combination of a pair of spaced parallel housings, each having a centrally disposed opening,` an upper set of leveler rolls journaled in said housings. ak rigid support suspended from. the` upperv horizontal portions of saidV housings below said rolls, a lower set of rleveler rolls journaled in said support, the ends of said support being positioned in said openings, the rolls of said' second set being oiset with respect to the rolls of said' ilrst mentioned set whereby a sinuous path of. travel for stock is 'provided between the two setsof rolls.

2. Apparatusaccording to claim lin whichsaid `suspension means comprises a` plurality of screws sets ofv rolls may be varied.

3; In aroller leveler, the'combination of a pair of spaced parallel housings each having a centrally disposed opening. therethrough, a set of leveler rollsjournaledin saidhousingaa support having its endsreceived in said openings, a second set of levelerrolls journaled', in said support, enlarged bores extending inwardly from the outer ends of said support, shafts receivedin said bores. vertically extending bores through said support and said shafts, vertically" extending bores in portions of said housings aligned with said second mentioned. bores, and elongated members' extending through said second and third mentioned bores to oppose separation of said sets of rolls.

4. In a: roller leveler, the combination of upper f and lower sets of working rolls arrangedinoilfset relation4 to define a sinuous path of travel for stock therebetween, a pair of pinch rolls at the stockfleaving end of the pass through said` working rolls, one of said .pinch rolls being adapted to rotate about a fixed axis. the other of saidy pinch rolls being slidably mounted for movement toward and away from said fixed axis, means to urge the slidably mounted roll toward the fixed roll, means to vary the pressure exerted by said means to` urge, and means to limit the extent of sliding movement of the movable. pinch roll toward said xed roll.`

5. Apparatus according .to claim 4 further including means to vary the position of the rangeV rolls comprising a motormounted on said base,.

and a* leverU connecting said motor `and cradle.

7. A roller leveler comprising in combination a pair ofv spaced housings each having a girder like horizontal section and downwardly extending legs at either end of said horizontal` section, an upper setof leveler rolls journaled in the4 lower portions of said horizontal sections, a rigid embodiments of the invention should be con- Support having its respective ends positionedbetween the legs of the respective housings suspended from said horizontal sections, and a lower set of leveler rolls journaled in said support.

k8. Apparatus acording to claim 7 further incluriingy elongated vertically extending boresr in said horizontal sections, the means to suspend said support comprising screws extending through said bores and having connection with said support, ,and la Athrust; bearing about each of said screws above said horizontal sections to oppose the downward force exerted on said screws by material passing between the upper and lower sets of rolls.

Y 9. A roller leveler comprising in combination a pair of spaced housings each having a horizontally disposed portion and spaced vertically extending legs at either end of said horizontal portion, a bank of leveler rolls journaled in said horizontal portions, a support having its end portions positioned between the vertical legs of said ihousings, the arrangement being such that said legs oppose horizontal movement of said support in opposite directions extending substantially parallel with the path of travel of stock through said leveler, a cooperating bank of leveler rolls n journaled in said support, and tension means extending from said horizontal portions to said support to oppose the separation of said banks of rolls by stock passing therebetween.

10. A roller leveler comprising in combination a pair of spaced housings each having a horizontal portion of box section and downwardly extending legs at either end of said horizontal section, an upper set of leveler rolls journaled in the lower parts of said horizontal portions, means journaling a lower set of leveler rolls at their ends, said means extending between said legs, and tension devices extending between said horizontal portions and said means to suspend the latter and oppose separation of said upper and lower roll sets by the stock passing between said sets.

11. Apparatus according .to claim 10 further characterized in that said means comprises a rigid frame extending from Within one of said housings to within the other of said housings, said rigid frame being box-like in section for at least a portion of its center extent, and back-up rolls rotatably supported by the center part of said frame.

12. A roller leveler comprising in combination a pair of spaced housings each having a horizontal portion and downwardly extending legs at either end of said horizontal portion, an upper `set of leveler rolls journaled inthe lower parts of said horizontal portions, a lower set of leveler rolls and means positioned between said legs to journal the ends of said lower rolls, tension devices extending between said horizontal portions and said means to suspend the lower set of rolls and to oppose separation of the two sets of rolls, and a pinch roll vjournaled in blocks slideably mounted in certain of the legs of said housings.

RUSSELL T. TODD. 

